Okatie Elementary receives National Blue Ribbon award

Courtesy of Jody Gourley. Okatie Elementary School principal Jamie Pinckney stands with some of her teachers and students.

Okatie Elementary is one of five South Carolina schools to win the 2013 National Blue Ribbon Schools award.

Okatie Elementary earned a score of 97.1 (or an “A”) on the state’s Elementary and Secondary Education Act waiver metrics in 2012 and a 98.7 (an “A”) in 2013. On its state report card, the school has had an absolute and growth rating of “excellent” for the past three years.

“Okatie Elementary is honored and proud to receive the coveted National Blue Ribbon recognition,” principal Jamie Pinckney said. “This is due to our dedicated staff who teach with their heart, supportive parents, caring community and students who strive to do their best each day. Go Owls.”

Okatie Elementary is the Beaufort County School District’s second National Blue Ribbon School and the first since Beaufort Elementary earned the recognition in 1998-99.

“This is a huge honor, not only for Okatie Elementary but for the entire school district,” Superintendent Jeff Moss said. “It recognizes on a national level the strong focus on academics here at Okatie and the hard work of students, parents, volunteers, business partners, leaders and staff.”

Winners of the Blue Ribbon School award are either academically superior or demonstrate dramatic gains in student achievement.

The other state recipients are:

• Mayo High School for Math, Science, and Technology, Darlington County School District

• Flowertown Elementary, Dorchester School District 2

• Ware Shoals Elementary, Greenwood School District 51

• New Prospect Elementary, Spartanburg School District 1

Official award ceremonies will take place in Washington, D.C., on Nov. 18-19, where the 286 national winners will receive Blue Ribbon School flags and engraved plaques as symbols of their success.

The winning schools have to meet one of the criteria listed below:

• Schools must have at least 40 percent of their students from disadvantaged backgrounds show dramatic improvement in test scores to high levels in English language arts and mathematics.

• Schools, regardless of their demographics, must achieve in the top 10 percent of schools in the state.

All five of South Carolina’s National Blue Ribbon Schools Award winners have 50 percent or more of their student population from disadvantaged backgrounds. All five schools received a letter grade of “A” on their 2012 federal accountability report cards.